The County Business Network
Sandy Abbott, Business Counsellor for Prince Edward County
What We Do
Connecting People and Businesses
- Helping with research to identify your ideal customer and your competition
- Linking you with entrepreneurs who can strengthen your business development
- Finding existing businesses that will sell or promote your product or service
- Identifying industry groups, business organizations and informal local groups that can provide information and support on an ongoing basis
- Locating the professionals that will help build your management team
Help to Research Sources of Federal, Provincial and Municipal Support
Finding Training Opportunities – whether increasing your own business acumen, building skills in your current workforce or training new hires.
Researching and Securing Start-up and Expansion Funding – understanding the guidelines and eligibility criteria of various grants and loans program, ensuring successful applications.
Connecting You to Current Sources of Information and Guidelines – getting started on the right track with information regarding Business Registration, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Employment Standards Act, WSIB, Public Health Regulations, Municipal Zoning and By-laws.
Fine Tuning Your Written Documents
Provide feedback and coaching on writing business plans, grants and loan applications.
Connecting People and Businesses
- Helping with research to identify your ideal customer and your competition
- Linking you with entrepreneurs who can strengthen your business development
- Finding existing businesses that will sell or promote your product or service
- Identifying industry groups, business organizations and informal local groups that can provide information and support on an ongoing basis
- Locating the professionals that will help build your management team
Help to Research Sources of Federal, Provincial and Municipal Support
Finding Training Opportunities – whether increasing your own business acumen, building skills in your current workforce or training new hires.
Researching and Securing Start-up and Expansion Funding – understanding the guidelines and eligibility criteria of various grants and loans program, ensuring successful applications.
Connecting You to Current Sources of Information and Guidelines – getting started on the right track with information regarding Business Registration, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Employment Standards Act, WSIB, Public Health Regulations, Municipal Zoning and By-laws.
Fine Tuning Your Written Documents
Provide feedback and coaching on writing business plans, grants and loan applications.
About Us
Sandy Abbott is the owner of Abbott Agency, which was incorporated in 1994 and has worked on behalf of Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels of government to provide free and confidential career exploration, life coaching, job search and business development in the Prince Edward County/Quinte area for over 30 years.
Since 2010, the Agency has focused solely on self-employment feasibility, business start-up, expansion and retention on behalf of the Municipality of Prince Edward County and the Provincial Government.
Year round, efforts centre around one-on-one consultations with future and existing businesses owners. During the slower season, Sandy also co- coordinates the very successful Winter Survival Workshop series providing a chance for skill development, information sharing and networking of the local business community.
Testimonials
“I have always found it helpful to set up a business meeting with Sandy Abbott in order to move forward in my business. She has a keen business sense and steers me in the right direction. I find her insights invaluable.”
“I met Sandy Abbott in 2019 at a Winter Survival Workshop , with hopes of opening a farm stand that wasn’t typical. Sandy was able to connect me with other like-minded people who became consignors at my farm stand. In 2020, I again attended seminars that Sandy organized and again she connected me with more eventual consignors…. and went even further to have my little farm stand highlighted in the Build a New Life in The County blog. Sandy is a great communicator and connection person who has benefited me in my little venture.”
“Sandy Abbott is a key part of economic development in Prince Edward County – she has the pulse on both local entrepreneurs’ needs, as well as local subject matter experts who can aid us. I launched a new and successful business in The County this year, and look forward to hiring staff next year. I couldn’t have accomplished that without Sandy’s support and knowledge.”
Businesses We’ve Worked With
A Healing Table
Beacon Bike + Brew
County Fare
Farmhouse Eats
Floralora Flowers
LaLaLand Glass Studio
Essential Relaxation
Thyme Again Gardens
Zack Lammes Excavating
County Business Network
Focused on self-employment feasibility, business start-up, expansion and retention on behalf of the Municipality of Prince Edward County and the Provincial Government.